The Israeli-Palestinian peace process — the one that is supposed to end with a two-state solution — is on life support. Both sides in the conflict have made their share of missteps, but Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister, all but pulled the plug earlier this month by pledging during his reelection campaign that Palestine would never become a state on his watch. He reaffirmed the sentiment even as he dialed back the rhetoric after the vote. This position runs directly counter to U.S. national security goals.

A two-state solution has been an American policy for nearly two decades. In a 2002 speech, George W.… Seguir leyendo »

The planned speech to Congress by Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, on March 3 has deeply agitated American-Israeli relations. The animus between President Obama and Mr. Netanyahu has not helped, but more than a personal conflict is at stake: Each has sharply different views on how to advance his nation’s interests.

While the immediate cause of the tension is Mr. Netanyahu’s opposition to a deal over Iran’s nuclear program, the roots of disagreement lie with the prime minister’s recalcitrance on Palestinian statehood. The United States considers the creation of two states living side by side in peace and security an imperative.… Seguir leyendo »

As President Obama’s July deadline to begin drawing down troops from Afghanistan approaches, the debate in Washington is focused almost exclusively on how rapidly the U.S. military presence should be reduced. But the emphasis on troop levels ignores the more important question of what the administration’s political strategy should be for ending the war.

There is no question that the U.S. must leave Afghanistan eventually. But withdrawal must be done in a way that prevents chaos and ensures that America’s interests in the region are protected. Current U.S. military tactics, however, are often operating at cross-purposes to the establishment of an effective political strategy for ending the war — a political strategy that to date has been poorly constructed.… Seguir leyendo »